The Ashland University volleyball team clinched a share of the GLIAC South championship with a sweep of host Davenport, 25-20, 25-18, 26-24, in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday (Oct. 20) evening.
The Eagles (20-5, 11-2 GLIAC) won their 20th game of the season, reaching that milestone for the fourth time in the last seven years. AU qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the other three seasons. Saturday's win was also the 900th in program history.
Ashland was dominant defensively against the Panthers (12-13, 6-7 GLIAC), holding the hosts to a .088 hitting percentage and leading in digs, 63-46. Senior libero Kaitlin Bean led the Eagles in that category with 19 digs and racked up 6.33 per set over the weekend.
Sophomore McKinley Smith added 13 digs and freshman Erin Krupar had a double-double with 10 kills (.148) and 13 digs.
The Eagles were balanced offensively with four players finishing with a double-digit kill total, led by senior Reanne Neal, who finished with 13 kills (.393) with just two errors on 28 attacks.
Juniors Shelby Woycik and Sophi Cudworth had 11 kills apiece, while freshman setter Zoey Peck handed out 45 assists.
Jenn Kay Vander Meer led the Panthers with nine kills and 11 digs.
Ashland hit .221 as a team, while Davenport held a 13-3 lead in blocks.
The Eagles will hit the road for two matches on Tuesday (Oct. 23) in Salem, W.Va. Ashland will play Salem at 3 p.m. and West Virginia Wesleyan at 5 p.m.
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